Monday, September 29, 2008
Morning talk-walk
I considered the efforts of war and the associated notions of protection as I walked this morning. Are wars fought for all the citizens rights it claims to be protecting? Or the vast abstraction that some other male dominate culture (worse in its oppressive behavior) is trying to take control of the current one we have. In this context what is the definition of "rights" exactly? Our rights (as Americans) are not those of the most basic humanitarian freedoms. Women can not walk safely alone at night, children can not go safely to church; to name just a glaring few. The fact that these freedoms, along with others, may not exist elsewhere should not console us into acceptance and inaction of our current cultural institution. While we support our troops and our nation, make no mistake that we should question what "rights" are being given and protected to keep us consoled and more importantly docile.
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Perhaps the solution to your dilemma in defining "rights" would be aided by acknowledging the fact that there is a distinct difference between rights and freedom. Often these terms in language are incorrectly interchanged. The truth is that freedom simply exists while rights are given. You touch on this difference, however you interchange them in the following sentence:
"Our rights (as Americans) are not those of the most basic humanitarian freedoms."
The fact of the matter is that women in this country have the freedom and the right to walk safely alone at night. Children are free to attend church and most definitely have the right to do so.
The perpetration by evil which unfortunately shares the same "freedom" does not have the "right" to such devilishness in this country.
The effort in the war between "good" and "evil" is to destroy the "freedoms" and remove the "rights" of either side fighting the battle. In a truly peaceful world "good" must prevail, and evil must not be allowed to remove "freedom". Thus the reason there will always be war and why peace can not exist without it is simply because evil is ultimately "free" to exist.
While it is always wise question "rights" it is not wise to question the "freedom" which "all" of humanity deserves.
Unfortunately all of humanity has not achieved such liberation, thereby jeopardizing the rights, and freedom of those who have.
Furthermore, I believe the real consideration should be; whats is more tractable, good or evil?
"I've lived too long with pain. I won't know who I am without it."
Ender Wiggin
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